SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – As the government shutdown continues, residents in Washington and Idaho are facing a potential pause in SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps. Hoping to fill the gap, Second Harvest hosted a ‘mobile market’ at the Spokane Valley Mall on Tuesday, providing drive-up food assistance.
Volunteers filled the trunks of cars with free food, with no paperwork or application required. The mall parking lot was nearly full with those waiting in line. This large turnout highlighted the event’s success, as well as the community’s need for assistance.
“I think everyone is looking for what little help they can find,” said Andy Caster from Second Harvest Spokane.
Second Harvest, along with partners like Coordinated Care, SNAP Spokane and Avista, aimed to serve 250 families during the event. By 11:00 a.m., 150 cars had already passed through. Ultimately, 474 cars received food assistance, surpassing that goal.
Those waiting in line to receive food at the event came from all walks of life.
“We’ve got to feed our kids,” one mother waiting in the line with her children shared. “We’re just having troubles having kids and then having to go to a single income.”
“Me and my wife, we’re on social security,” a senior citizen in the line told NonStop Local. “Next month, and I don’t know what we’re going to do. I really don’t.”
All attendees shared a common concern: the potential pause in SNAP benefits.
A retired woman who was waiting added, “We don’t have much left… so it’s just harder now.”
“I’m a caregiver for adults with disabilities and a lot of them rely on SNAP benefits and they’re not gonna be getting them this month,” said another woman in the line. “I think people are scared that they’re not going to have food in November.”
Without federal funding, the SNAP payment scheduled for October 31 will be the last one until the government shut down is resolved.
NonStop Local reached out to Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services regarding the return of SNAP benefits post-shutdown. They stated that there is no formal guidance on when benefits will resume or if missed benefits will be back-paid.
